Motor controller



N. L. MORTENSEN.

MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. 1920.

Patented Jan. 10,1922.

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NIELS MOBTENSEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO T BIE CUTLER- HAMMER MG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF 'WIS- CONSIN.

MOTOR CON TROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10. 15353.3.

Application filed April 30, 1920. Serial No. 877,798.

to coact in predetermined cycles, of which class of mechanisms charging devices for blast furnaces maybe taken as exemplary.

It has heretofore been proposedto operate a given motor driven mechanism intermittently in stages of dissimilar range or extent and to provide for repetition of a predetermined cycle or sequence of such dissimilar stages of operation of the driven mechanism. Thus in the operation of charging a blast furnace, in order to compensate for uneven distribution of the material within the hopper and to provide for uniform disposition of the successively dumped bodies of material circumferentially of the large bell prior to introduction of such material into the furnace roper,it has been proposed to effect a partial rotation of the hopper following each introduction of material there within and prior to dumping thereof, and to vary progressively the angular range of such successive partial rotations. The foregoing action, however, obviously involves location of certain moving parts at or near the top of the furnace which location is in certain instances disadvantageous and the )resent invention has among its objects that of obviating such disadvantage.

Another object is that of providing a device for effecting such disposition of the charging material for blast furnaces and the like, prior to elevation of such material, ,as to provide for adequate distribution of the material upon introduction thereof into such furnace or the like.

Another object is that of providing a device for effecting such preliminary move ments' of the loaded buckets supplying charging materials to a blast furnace or the like to enable adequate distribution of such material upon simple elevation and dumping thereof Within such furnace or the like in the usual manner.

Another object is that of providing a controller adapted to effect operation of a plurality of motor driven mechanisms in similar cycles overlapping one another in point of time and each cycle comprising a plurality of intermittent stages of unlike range or extent.

Another object is that of providing a controller of the aforesaid character including means for preventing derangement of the cycle of operation of the controlled mechanisms in the event of failure of power or in other contingencies.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration thereof, while Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating certain proposed circuit connections more in detail.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, the same illustrates at 5 the upper portion of a blast furnace including a large bell 6 and a receiving hopper 7 A skip hoist 8 is arranged to deliver charging material to the hopper 7, such material being conveyed in buckets?) and 10 and the latter being respectively mounted upon cars 11 and 12 and removable therefrom by the hoist mechanism. Said cars are arranged to traverse a curved track 13 for transporting the individual buckets from the respective spouts or loading points 14 and 15 to the foot of the hoist, the arrangement providing for loading of one bucket during elevation and dumping of another.

Obviously the material as spouted into the buckets will not ordinarily distribute itself equally about the inner periphery thereof but will be more or less heaped at certain points and hollowed at others, which points, moreover, will always occur in substantially the same angular relation with reference to the particular loading spout, assuming uniform positioning of -.the bucket thereunder. It is therefore proposed, following loading of each bucket and prior to delivery thereof to the hoist. to turn such bucket through a predetermined horizontal angle. and following successive loading of either bucket to which is preferab y a factor of 360 degrees.

After a number of turns suchthat the range of the last turn differs from 360 degrees only by such common increment, the bucket is filled and dumped once without intermediate turning and the aforedescribed cycle is thereafter repeated.

Such sequential loading, turning and dumping of the several buckets serves to compensate for uneven disposition of the charging material therein and provides for uniform distributiorrof the individual ingredients of such material upon the large bell of the furnace, assuming the use of an individual bucket for handling each of the principal ingredientsfof the charge.

The aforedescribed turning of the several buckets is effected by individual motors 16 and 17 located upon the respective cars and acting through suitable gearing. The necessary correlation and control of said motors is effected by means of control mechanism including individual limit switches 18 and 19 to be driven in synchron'ism with the respective buckets and a common ratchet operated selector device 20, the latter being 1n turn controllable by a master controller 21 which in practice may be actuated either 7 voluntarily by the operator or automatically through the reverse movements of the cars upon the track, or inother ways. More specifically the master controller includes a series 0t stationarycontacts 22 to 27 and a co-operating contact-carrying drum 28 movable-in opposite directions from an intermediate, ea position to provide a line connection for'either of the motors 16 and 17 selectively, and to complete a ower connection for eifecting actuation o the selector device 20 to complete the energizing cir- .cuit of such motor; through its associated limit switch. The. selector deviceis designed' to provide for starting ofthef motors inalternataorder' by the master controller,

' "whereas the respective limit switches are or range of operation thereof determine adapted" to effect automatic-stopping of their associated 'motors following a degree y the setting of the,selector device.

.The limit switches 18-and 19 areof simi 3 lar construction and each comprises a plu- .nection's to be hereinafter-described, and a co -operating set of" interconnected contact segments "of different :lengths adapted to ral-i'ty offfixed contacts,-having circuit conmove jointly in synchronism with the respective buckets. J The selector device 20 comprises an insulating base 29 carrying-contact buttons arranged in two concentric rows, each of like number of buttons. 1

The buttons of the outerrow are insulated from one another and numbered consecutively from 31 to 54, whereas the alternate buttonsof the inner row are electrically in terconnected and are collectively designated by numbers and 56 respectively. Slip rings 57 and 58 are arranged adjacent the respective outer and inner rows of contact buttons and concentric therewith,- while a contactor 59 is pivoted concentrically of said buttons and slip rings and provided with oppositely located sets-of electrically connected brushes 60 and 61 adapted in differentpositions of said contactor to connect individual buttons of each of said inner and outer rows with their respective slip rings,

the .latter having individual line connections. A ratchet Wheel 62 having a number of teeth equal to'the' number of buttons in either row is secured concentrically of said contactor, while'a solenoid operated ratchet lever 63 is adapted to co-operate with said ratchet wheel for effecting step by step rotation of said contactor in a clockwise direction. 7

The interconnected groups 55 and 56 of selector contacts are respectively connected with individual fixed contacts of the master controller for selective energization of said groups of contacts upon movement of the master controller to either of its extreme positions, "the contactor brushes 61 being of such width as to be' always in en agement with at least one of said buttons. oreover, the line connection of slip ring 58 includes the winding 64 of solenoid 65, whereby it is always possible toeifect energization of said 'windin I from 0 position to one or the other extreme position, whereas movement of the master from one extreme position to the other similarly eifects energization of said winding to advance the contactor one step. A switch 66 operated by the solenoid serves when closed to maintain energization of said winding through the master controller, irrespective of separation of the v contactor brushes 61 from the selector contact through.

which such energization was effected.

The outer contact buttons of the selector device'are utilized directly for.controlling completion of the circuits of motors 16 and 17, buttons having odd reference numerals being respectively connected with corre 'sponding'fixed contacts of limit switch 18 for control of motor 16 and buttons havin even numbers being similarly connected with corresponding contacts of limit switch adapted in all caes to complete an advance rcircuit connection prior to interruption of 130 through operation of the master said dead buttons corresponds with that phase of operation of the device wherein the bucket is not turned prior to dumping.

Each limit switch, in addition to the usual continuously engaged [energizing contact and segment, is'provided with ten. fixed contacts individually connected with buttons of the selector device as aforedescribed, and for convenience each of said fixed contacts is designated by. a reference numeral greater by one hundred than the numeral of its corresponding selector button.

The lengths of the various limit switch segments and their ar'rangement with reference to the fixed contacts thereof are such as to provide for progressive and uniform increase in the angle throu h which each bucket is successively turne such increase continuing up to the pointat which further increase wou d result in complete revolution of the bucket at which point, however, the contactor brush is adapted to engage one of the dead contacts and the bucket is not rotated, the cycle of operation being thereafter recommenced.

The various controller parts being in the relative positions illustrated the operation thereof may be described as follows: Movement of the master controller to position a completes the energizing circuit of solenoid magnet winding 64 from line L to contact 24: of the master controller, thence by conductor 67 to the cup 56 of selector contact buttons one 0 which buttons is enga ed by the contactor brush 61, thence to sip ring 58, thence by conductor 68 through the winding 64 of the solenoid magnet and by conductors .69 and 70 to line L Said solenoid magnet thereupon responds, drawing in its plunger and advancing said-"contactor one step, thus disenga ing the button 56 and engaging the next utton 55, which is unenergized at this time. However, prior to such disen agement of button 56 the switch 66 is arfapted to close thus completing a maintaining circuit of the windin of said solenoid'magnet,'said circuit exten ing from line L to contact 23 of the master controller and by conductor 71 through said solenoid switch, thence by conductor 72 through the winding of said solenoid magnet and by conductors 69 and 70 to line L Such action obviously serves to transferthe control of said winding 64 from the selector device to the master controller and to maintain said winding energized pending movement of said master controller to ofi position.

The aforedescribed movement of the contactor 59 also serves to bring the brushes 60 into such position as to connect the button 31 with the slip ring 57. However, as said button is dead no action of either motor is efl 'ected, -this being the stage wherein the bucket 9 is not turned prior to dumping.

Upon shifting the master controller to the position b the contactor 59 is again advanced one step in the manner ust de scribed. However, in this instance, the energizin" .circuit of the solenoid winding extends t rough contact 25 of the master controller thence by conductor 73 to the group of selector contacts and thence through the contactor brushes 61 as formerly traced. Such second shiftin of the contactor brings the brushes t ereof into engagement with the button 32 thereby COIIlPlGtlIl the circuit of motor 17, said circuit exten ing from line L through contact 27 of the master controller, thence by conductor 74 through the field and armature of said motor to limit switch 19, thence through contact 132 thereof which is electrically connected with said selector button 32, thence through brushes 60 to slip ring 57 and by conductor to line, L. Motor 17 thereupon functions to turn its associated bucket through an angle corresponding with the angular extent of the limit switch segment which is then engaged by said contact 132, and at the end of such movement the motor circuit is interrupted at said segment.

Return movement of the master controller to position (1 serves again to advance the selector one step and similarly to effect energization of motor 16 by circuit connections extending through contact 26 of the master controller, by conductor 75 through the field and armature of said motor 16 thence to limit switch 18 and to contact 133 thereof which is electrically connected with button 33 of the selector device thence through brushes 60 and slip ring 57 and thence to line L. Motor 16 thereupon acts to rotate its associated bucket through an angle determined by the length of the segment which is then in engagement with said contact 133;

Thus successive movements of. the master controller from one extreme position to the other serve to effect energization of the respective motors alternately for rotation of the respectivebuckets through progressively increasing angles until the contactor brushes 6O engage the contact numbered 38 which position corresponds with the stage of operation wherein the bucket 10 is not rotated. Whereupon the cycle of operation of this bucket recommences at this point.

The controller illustrated is designed to effect operation of each bucket in cycles each comprising five-turns and one neutral stage, the first turn being 60 and each succeeding i turn being increased by 60 over the preceding turn, although obviously different cyclic combinations may readily be obtained by varying the number of contact elements and the relative lengths of the limit switch seg ments. p

To provide fOnexecution of the particular cycles aforedescribed, each limit switch is the preceding segmenttravel of the limit switch is cumulative each limit switch making two and one half revolutions to each complete cycle of its bucket, it'is obvious that each limit switch, at the end of each cycle of its bucket, occupies 'a position'180 in advance of its position at the end of the previous cycle. It is therefore advantageous to employ a number of fixed contacts equal to twice the number of control. segments and'to arrange said contacts in two rows displaced 180 angularly,

whereby said rows of contacts participate alternately for control of the bucket insimilar' cycles, irrespective of the fact that the limit switch does not returnto starting position at the end of each cycle.

Obviously the number of active I control contacts 31 to 54 of the selector device equals the total number of fixed control contacts'of both limit switches, whereby one complete revolution of said selector device corresponds with two complete cycles of each bucket, the dead contacts 31, 38, 43 and 50 beingarranged in insure proper. sequential relation of the neutral stage for each cycle of either bucket.

The inner row of selector buttons 55 and 56 serve in.- conjunction with their associated 'contactor brushes and the solenoid switch 66 toprovide an interlock for preventing derangement of the cycle of control in the event of failure of power supplied to the controller. Thus upon failure of power during" energization of the solenoid winding 64, the master controller being necessarily in on position, the solenoid plunger will merely drop, whereas upon restoration of power no action of the selector device will occur until after movement of the master to the opposite on position whereupon the next stage of the cycle will be executed in its normal order.

Obviously emergency stopping of either motor may be eli'ected at any time through movement of the master controller to off position and such motor may then be restarted for completion of the interrupted stage of operation by return of the master to the position from which it was so moved.

What I claim as new and desire by Letters Patent-- 1. In a controller for associated motor driven devices, the combination with means for effecting starting connections for the selectively following driving motors alternately, of means to be driven in synchronism with the respective devices for effecting stoppin'g of said motors predetermined different ranges of operatlon oiisaid devices.

2. In a controller for associated motor driven devices, the combination with means for effecting starting of the driving motors sequentially, of associated means for efiecting stopping of the respective motors following operation of said devices throughout predetermined ranges and for progressively varying the successive operative ranges of said devices.

3. In a controller for associated motor driven devices, the combination with means for effecting starting ofthe driving motors sequentially, of associated means for efibctit ing stopping of the respective motors following operation of their associated driven devices throughout a predetermined range and for automatically varying the successive operative ranges of the individual driven devices in cycles.

4:. In a controller for associated motor driven devices, the combination with means for effecting starting of said devices sequentially, of associated means for effecting stopping of each of said devices following operation thereof throughout a predetermined range and for automatically and progressively varying the successive operat ing ranges of said devices.

5. A controller for effecting operation of associated driven devices sequentially and each in stages of dissimilar range comprising common means for effecting selective starting of said devices and associated individual meansvfor efiecting stopping of the respective devices and for progressively varying the range of the successive operations of each.

6. A controller for effecting operation of associated independently driven devices in cycles which include a succession of opera tive stages of dissimilar range, comprising means common to said devices for efl'ecting repeated sequential starting thereof while providing for operations thereof singly, and associated individual means for effecting stopping of the respective devices and for varying cyclically the successive operative ranges of each.

7. A controller for associated mechanisms having individual driving motors comprising starting means providing for operation of said motors alternately and singly and associated stopping means providing for optively, a selector device controllable by said master controller for completing the circuits of said motors sequentially and associated means for effecting stopping of each motor following progressively varying ranges of operation thereof.

9. A controller for associated mechanisms having individual driving motors, comprising a master controller for-effecting partial circuit connections for said motors selectively, a selector device controllable b said master controller for completing the circuits of said motors, said master controller and said selector device having an interlock providing against completion of said circuits except in a predetermined order and associated means for effecting stopping of each motor following progressively varying ranges of operation thereof.

10. A controller for associated mechanisms having individual driving motors, comprising a master controller for effecting partial circuit connections for said motors selectively, a selector device for completing the circuits of said motors sequentially, op-

erating means for said selector device including an electromagnetic winding having its energizing circuit controllable by said device and said master controller jointly, and associated means for effecting stopping of each motor following progressively varying ranges of operation thereof.

11. In a controller for associated motors, the combination with a master controller for effecting partial circuit connections for said motors selectively and a selector device for completing the circuits of said motors in a predetermined order, of operating means for said selector device including an electromagnetic winding having its energizing circuit arranged to be completed by said master controller through a portion of said device and operation of said device serving to interrupt the connection through which said circuit was established, and an interlock for transferring the control of said operating means to' said master controller prior to such interruption of said connection.

12. In a controller for associated motors, the combination with a master controller for effecting partial circuit connections for said motors selectively and a selector device for completing the circuits of said motors in a pi-edetermlned order, of operating means for said selector device including an electromagnetic winding having its energizing'circuit arranged to be completed by said master controller through a portion of said device and operation of said device serving to interrupt the connection through which said circuit was established, and to establish a connection for subsequent completion of said circuit by a difi'erent positioning of said master controller, an interlock for transferring the control of said operating means to said master controller. prior to such interruption of said connection to provide for operation of said selector device only in a step by step manner irrespective of failure and restoration of power or of inappropriate actuation of the master controller.

scribed my name.

NIELS L. MOB-TEN SEN.

Certificate of Correction. I

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,403,342, granted January 10,

1922, upon the application of Niels L. Mortensen, of Milwaukee,

an improvement in Motor Controllers, errors appear in the printed specification- Wisconsin, for

requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 35, for the word in read to, and

line 122, claim 7, strike out the words and singly; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to.

the record of thecase inlthe Patent Office.

Signedendsealed this 25th day of April, A. D., 1922.

[SEAL] KARL FENN IN G,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

